City: Children’s Pool restrooms to be fixed within four weeks

Soon after the Children’s Pool Lifeguard Tower quietly opened in late June (after three years of delays and pauses in construction), the restrooms were closed to the public. They will remain closed off, foreseeably, until the end of the month. Citing the flushing of items beyond what the pipes could handle, Senior Public Information Officer Monica Muñoz said the City must repair the sewer pump system.

“When the restrooms were opened to the public, items such as diapers, articles of clothing and feminine hygiene products were flushed down the toilet, clogging the facility’s sewer pumps. … The facility’s sewer pumps were designed to be capable of grinding materials up to two inches in diameter, easily handling most materials and products flushed down the toilet,” she said, adding that the sewer pump became blocked on July 18 and 21. “Once cleaned and the obstructions removed, the sewer pumps operated as designed. However, because of the increased frequency of the backups, the restrooms were closed for public use beginning in July.”

To mediate, she said the City’s project team met with the pump manufacturer and the designer of the Lifeguard Tower project. “From that meeting, solutions proposed included the use of a different pump system that could better handle products flushed down the toilet.

“Solutions are being moved forward for implementation that will help reduce the number of reoccurring blockages, but not prevent blockages caused by large and elastic materials that are flushed down the toilets,” Munoz said. “The work involved will be contained inside the pump station and no excavation is anticipated. The work should be completed within the next four weeks, pending availability of materials.”

The cost for the installation of additional sewer pump control system has not been finalized.

Construction of the Children’s Pool Lifeguard Tower took nearly three years, when original plans called for eight months of work back in 2013. Delays included crews needing to suspend work during the harbor seal pupping season (Dec. 15-May 15), and the project facing complications such as inconsistent design plans, problems with materials and a nesting seagull chick on site.

Vikings to cut ribbon on athletic complex before Homecoming

To formally unveil the new La Jolla High School athletic complex, a ribbon-cutting will precede the Vikings’ Homecoming football game, 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14 against Serra High School at Gene Edwards Stadium, on campus at 750 Nautilus St. The athletic complex includes new home and visitor plazas, entry gates, bleachers, a press box, concession buildings, restrooms, weight rooms, tennis plaza, boys locker room and additional storage space; and the replacement of the synthetic turf field and resurfacing of the running track.

Immediately after the 3:30 p.m. JV game (also against Serra High), the school will host an opening ceremony for the tennis pavilion at 5 p.m. Past coaches Russ Lanthorne and Maggie Quita Mulkins, as well as CIF and league champion tennis teams will be recognized.

At 6:30 p.m., the district will cut the ribbon on the new athletic complex and field and induct a Coaching Wall of Honor. More than 30 former coaches are expected to attend, and the wall will be located by the home-side concession stand. sandi.net/ljhs

City Attorney candidates and police will speak at Oct. 13 Town Council meeting

The La Jolla Town Council October meeting will be jam-packed with speakers and guests, a social hour will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13 at La Jolla Rec Center, 615 Prospect St.

The schedule includes a meet-and-greet with San Diego Police Department officers at 4 p.m. — including comments from Northern Division Captain Mark Hanten. At 4:30, candidates for City Attorney will speak and host brief Q&A sessions. At 5 p.m., as part of the regular Town Council meeting, the Community Crime Watch Committee and task force formed to the address the sea lion prevalence at La Jolla Cove will each provide a report.

Coast Boulevard beach stairs to be repaired

Construction on the beach access found between 100-200 Coast Boulevard is set to begin any day now, it was announced at the Sept. 26 La Jolla Parks & Beaches (LJP&B) advisory group meeting.

The stairs connect Coast Boulevard to a beach area known as The Horseshoe, on the north end of Marine Street Beach, but were destroyed by storms in early 2016. In June, the San Diego Public Works Department approved a declaration that the lack of a staircase at that location constitutes “an emergency,” thereby speeding the process to get it reinstated.

At the LJP&B meeting, Justin Garver, a representative with District One City Councilmember Sherri Lightner said the City is expecting to begin construction “in early October,” and that, “The only potential item that could delay things is the sea wall (at the base of the stairs, to which the previous staircase was connected). Our investigation found a cavity at the base of the sea wall, which is privately owned, so we are investigating to make sure it’s structurally sound before we install the stair wall. Once that investigation is complete, the City will begin construction as soon as possible.”

La Jolla Elementary named National Blue Ribbon School

La Jolla Elementary School is one of 329 schools across the nation to be named a 2016 National Blue Ribbon School. The designation recognizes that it is a campus where students achieve very high learning standards, according to the Department of Education.

These “Exemplary High Performing” campuses are recognized among their state’s highest performing schools, as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.

“This recognition is a shining example of our students achieving at the highest level,” said Superintendent Cindy Marten. “I congratulate the staff, students, parents and La Jolla Elementary community for their hard work.”

Now in its 34th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed this coveted award on fewer than 8,500 schools. On Nov. 7 and 8, the Department will formally recognize the 279 public and 50 private schools at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.

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